Story perspectives

Victorian officials hid $257M COVID grant losses, IBAC finds

By Drooid · Oct 15, 2026, 6:00 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Victorian officials paid $257 million in COVID-19 grants to over 9,000 ineligible businesses.
Senior public servants concealed the suspected losses from Minister Martin Pakula and the Auditor General.
Deputy secretary ordered removal of loss data from a draft report to Minister Pakula and the Auditor General.
Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) report said the cover-up was deliberate and involved misleading information.

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Story summary

Victorian officials paid $257 million in COVID-19 grants to over 9,000 ineligible businesses.
Senior public servants concealed the suspected losses from Minister Martin Pakula and the Auditor General.
Deputy secretary ordered removal of loss data from a draft report to Minister Pakula and the Auditor General.
Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) report said the cover-up was deliberate and involved misleading information.